{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/58.1-3704.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/58.1-3704.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/58.1-3704.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/58.1-3704.html"}],"law_id":70783,"edition_id":1,"section_id":70783,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3704","catch_line":"License tax on merchants in lieu of merchants&#8217; capital tax","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 58-266.1; 1950, p. 155; 1956, c. 242; 1964, c. 424; 1968, c. 619; 1970, cc. 231, 547; 1974, cc. 196, 438; 1975, cc. 23, 621; 1976, cc. 521, 719; 1977, c. 320; 1978, cc. 772, 799, 817; 1979, cc. 565, 568, 570; 1980, cc. 318, 736; 1981, cc. 419, 636; 1982, cc. 348, 548, 552, 554, 558, 633; 1983, c. 554; 1984, cc. 247, 675, 695; 1999, c. 200; 2010, cc. 255, 295.","full_text":"Whenever any county, city or town imposes a license tax on merchants, the same shall be in lieu of a tax on the capital of merchants, as defined by \u00a7 58.1-3509; however, no county, city or town shall be required to impose either a license tax on merchants or a tax on the capital of merchants. The prohibition under this section shall not extend to short-term rental property as defined under \u00a7 58.1-3510.4.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":255294,"text":"Whenever any county, city or town imposes a license tax on merchants, the same shall be in lieu of a tax on the capital of merchants, as defined by \u00a7 58.1-3509; however, no county, city or town shall be required to impose either a license tax on merchants or a tax on the capital of merchants. The prohibition under this section shall not extend to short-term rental property as defined under \u00a7 58.1-3510.4.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13305,"edition_id":1,"name":"License Taxes","identifier":"37","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12704,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:36","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:36","permalink":{"id":258139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13305,"identifier":"37","token":"58.1\/III\/37","url":"\/58.1\/III\/37\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12704,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Taxes","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12703,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":256459,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12704,"identifier":"III","token":"58.1\/III","url":"\/58.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12703,"edition_id":1,"name":"Taxation","identifier":"58.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":251959,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12703,"identifier":"58.1","token":"58.1","url":"\/58.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":71581,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3700","catch_line":"License requirement; requiring evidence of payment of business license, business personal property, meals and admissions taxes","url":"\/58.1-3700\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3700","metadata":false},{"id":58225,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3700.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/58.1-3700.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3700.1","metadata":false},{"id":59692,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3701","catch_line":"Department to promulgate guidelines","url":"\/58.1-3701\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3701","metadata":false},{"id":86624,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3702","catch_line":"Authority of counties, cities and towns","url":"\/58.1-3702\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3702","metadata":false},{"id":81897,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3703","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns may impose local license taxes and fees; limitation of authority","url":"\/58.1-3703\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3703","metadata":false},{"id":73408,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3703.1","catch_line":"Uniform ordinance provisions","url":"\/58.1-3703.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3703.1","metadata":false},{"id":56587,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3703.2","catch_line":"Acceptable identification for business licenses","url":"\/58.1-3703.2\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3703.2","metadata":false},{"id":70783,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3704","catch_line":"License tax on merchants in lieu of merchants' capital tax","url":"\/58.1-3704\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3704","metadata":false},{"id":58290,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3705","catch_line":"License tax shall be uniform","url":"\/58.1-3705\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3705","metadata":false},{"id":56062,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3706","catch_line":" Limitation on rate of license taxes","url":"\/58.1-3706\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3706","metadata":false},{"id":82151,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3707","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/58.1-3707\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3707","metadata":false},{"id":82296,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3708","catch_line":"Situs for local license taxation of businesses, professions, occupations, etc","url":"\/58.1-3708\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3708","metadata":false},{"id":64479,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3709","catch_line":"Business located in more than one jurisdiction","url":"\/58.1-3709\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3709","metadata":false},{"id":69680,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3710","catch_line":"Proration of license taxes","url":"\/58.1-3710\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3710","metadata":false},{"id":83231,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3711","catch_line":"Limitation on county license tax within boundary of a town","url":"\/58.1-3711\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3711","metadata":false},{"id":70681,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3712","catch_line":"Counties and cities authorized to levy severance tax on gases","url":"\/58.1-3712\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3712","metadata":false},{"id":57218,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3712.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/58.1-3712.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3712.1","metadata":false},{"id":85271,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3713","catch_line":"Local gas road improvement and Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority tax","url":"\/58.1-3713\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3713","metadata":false},{"id":83244,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3713.01","catch_line":"Distribution of local coal and gas road improvement taxes for water and sewer projects applicable to the additional one-fourth allocation","url":"\/58.1-3713.01\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3713.01","metadata":false},{"id":75681,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3713.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/58.1-3713.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3713.1","metadata":false},{"id":82194,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3713.3","catch_line":"Validation of local coal and gas severance tax ordinances and local coal and gas road improvement tax ordinances","url":"\/58.1-3713.3\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3713.3","metadata":false},{"id":71813,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3713.4","catch_line":"Additional one percent tax on gas","url":"\/58.1-3713.4\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3713.4","metadata":false},{"id":66910,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3713.5","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/58.1-3713.5\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3713.5","metadata":false},{"id":79513,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3714","catch_line":"Contractors; credits against tax; effect upon authority of towns; workers' compensation requirements; penalty","url":"\/58.1-3714\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3714","metadata":false},{"id":68702,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3715","catch_line":"License requirements for contractors","url":"\/58.1-3715\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3715","metadata":false},{"id":82041,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3715.1","catch_line":"License requirements for mobile food units","url":"\/58.1-3715.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3715.1","metadata":false},{"id":80440,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3716","catch_line":"Wholesale merchants","url":"\/58.1-3716\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3716","metadata":false},{"id":68328,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3717","catch_line":"Peddlers; itinerant merchants","url":"\/58.1-3717\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3717","metadata":false},{"id":59851,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3718","catch_line":"Counties, cities and towns authorized to levy a license tax on peddlers at wholesale","url":"\/58.1-3718\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3718","metadata":false},{"id":71435,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3719","catch_line":"Limitations on license taxes imposed on peddlers, itinerant merchants and peddlers at wholesale","url":"\/58.1-3719\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3719","metadata":false},{"id":74267,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3719.1","catch_line":"Direct sellers; rate limitation","url":"\/58.1-3719.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3719.1","metadata":false},{"id":82352,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3720","catch_line":"Amusement machines; gross receipts tax on amusement operators","url":"\/58.1-3720\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3720","metadata":false},{"id":58872,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3721","catch_line":"License exemptions for coin machine operators","url":"\/58.1-3721\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3721","metadata":false},{"id":67702,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3722","catch_line":"Stickers to evidence payment of tax","url":"\/58.1-3722\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3722","metadata":false},{"id":59910,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3723","catch_line":"Penalty","url":"\/58.1-3723\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3723","metadata":false},{"id":61774,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3724","catch_line":"Bondsmen","url":"\/58.1-3724\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3724","metadata":false},{"id":66968,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3725","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/58.1-3725\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3725","metadata":false},{"id":70272,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3726","catch_line":"Fortune-tellers, clairvoyants and practitioners of palmistry","url":"\/58.1-3726\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3726","metadata":false},{"id":55644,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3727","catch_line":"Photographers with no regularly established place of business in the Commonwealth; rate limitations","url":"\/58.1-3727\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3727","metadata":false},{"id":66687,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3728","catch_line":"Carnivals, circuses, speedways; penalties; certain restrictions","url":"\/58.1-3728\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3728","metadata":false},{"id":77252,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3729","catch_line":"Permanent coliseums, arenas or auditoriums; limitations","url":"\/58.1-3729\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3729","metadata":false},{"id":70044,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3730","catch_line":"Savings institutions and credit unions; limitations","url":"\/58.1-3730\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3730","metadata":false},{"id":62410,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3730.1","catch_line":"Industrial loan associations and agricultural credit associations; limitations","url":"\/58.1-3730.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3730.1","metadata":false},{"id":54294,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3731","catch_line":"Certain public service corporations; rate limitation","url":"\/58.1-3731\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3731","metadata":false},{"id":58738,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3732","catch_line":"Exclusions and deductions from \"gross receipts.\"","url":"\/58.1-3732\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3732","metadata":false},{"id":66276,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3732.1","catch_line":"Limitation on gross receipts; pari-mutuel wagering","url":"\/58.1-3732.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3732.1","metadata":false},{"id":84233,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3732.2","catch_line":"Limitation on gross receipts","url":"\/58.1-3732.2\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3732.2","metadata":false},{"id":72849,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3732.3","catch_line":"Limitation on gross receipts of providers of funeral services","url":"\/58.1-3732.3\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3732.3","metadata":false},{"id":57213,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3732.4","catch_line":"Limitation on gross receipts; staffing firms","url":"\/58.1-3732.4\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3732.4","metadata":false},{"id":83140,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3732.5","catch_line":"Limitation on gross receipts of security brokers and dealers","url":"\/58.1-3732.5\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3732.5","metadata":false},{"id":76010,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3733","catch_line":"License tax on commission merchants","url":"\/58.1-3733\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3733","metadata":false},{"id":69381,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3734","catch_line":"License tax on motor vehicle dealers","url":"\/58.1-3734\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3734","metadata":false},{"id":83040,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3734.1","catch_line":"Sales involving trade-ins","url":"\/58.1-3734.1\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3734.1","metadata":false},{"id":75517,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3735","catch_line":"Departments of license inspection in certain counties","url":"\/58.1-3735\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3735","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":56587,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3703.2","catch_line":"Acceptable identification for business licenses","url":"\/58.1-3703.2\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3703.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58290,"structure_id":13305,"section_number":"58.1-3705","catch_line":"License tax shall be uniform","url":"\/58.1-3705\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3705","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/58.1-3704\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 17 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 242; in 1964, chapter 424; in 1968, chapter 619; in 1970, chapters 231 and 547; in 1974, chapters 196 and 438; in 1975, chapters 23 and 621; in 1976, chapters 521 and 719; in 1977, chapter 320; in 1978, chapters 772, 799, and 817; in 1979, chapters 565, 568, and 570; in 1980, chapters 318 and 736; in 1981, chapters 419 and 636; in 1982, chapters 348, 548, 552, 554, 558, and 633; in 1983, chapter 554; in 1984, chapters 247, 675, and 695; in 1999, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?991+ful+CHAP0200\">200<\/a>; in 2010, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?101+ful+CHAP0255\">255<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?101+ful+CHAP0295\">295<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":57594,"section_number":"58.1-3509","catch_line":"Merchants' capital subject to local taxation; rate limit","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3509\/"},{"id":75221,"section_number":"58.1-3510.4","catch_line":"Short-term rental property; short-term rental businesses","order_by":null,"url":"\/58.1-3510.4\/"}],"permalink":{"id":258169,"object_type":"law","relational_id":70783,"identifier":"58.1-3704","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3704","url":"\/58.1-3704\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/58.1-3704\/","token":"58.1\/III\/37\/58.1-3704","dublin_core":{"Title":"License tax on merchants in lieu of merchants&#8217; capital tax","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 58.1-3704","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Whenever any county, city or town imposes a license tax on merchants, the same shall be in lieu of a tax on the capital of merchants, as defined by \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Merchants&#039; capital subject to local taxation; rate limit\" href=\"\/58.1-3509\/\">58.1-3509<\/a>; however, no county, city or town shall be required to impose either a license tax on merchants or a tax on the capital of merchants. The prohibition under this section shall not extend to short-term rental property as defined under \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Short-term rental property; short-term rental businesses\" href=\"\/58.1-3510.4\/\">58.1-3510.4<\/a>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLICENSE TAX ON MERCHANTS IN LIEU OF MERCHANTS&#8217; CAPITAL TAX (\u00a7 58.1-3704)\n\nWhenever any county, city or town imposes a license tax on merchants, the same\nshall be in lieu of a tax on the capital of merchants, as defined by \u00a7\n58.1-3509; however, no county, city or town shall be required to impose either a\nlicense tax on merchants or a tax on the capital of merchants. The prohibition\nunder this section shall not extend to short-term rental property as defined\nunder \u00a7 58.1-3510.4.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 58-266.1; 1950, p. 155; 1956, c. 242; 1964, c. 424; 1968,\nc. 619; 1970, cc. 231, 547; 1974, cc. 196, 438; 1975, cc. 23, 621; 1976, cc.\n521, 719; 1977, c. 320; 1978, cc. 772, 799, 817; 1979, cc. 565, 568, 570; 1980,\ncc. 318, 736; 1981, cc. 419, 636; 1982, cc. 348, 548, 552, 554, 558, 633; 1983,\nc. 554; 1984, cc. 247, 675, 695; 1999, c. 200; 2010, cc. 255, 295.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}